antler mount problem

**dodgersfan** · 09-03-2010, 08:17 PM

I have several antler mounts that have been in my garage for years. Not until a few years ago did the oldest of the mounts begin to lose its hair. I've probably had it in there for at least 10 years before this began. Then another started losing it's hair as well. Does anyone know why this might be happening? Only thing I can figure is bugs or heat, but I haven't noticed bugs. They're basically skull mounts with the hide attached. 3-4 of them are now "bald". I'd love to find velvet or leather covers or caps for them. Any advice on that would be greatly appreciated as well.

**knowledge** · 09-04-2010, 05:12 PM

There are MANY kits out there on the market for a DIY mount. They usually come with leather or velvet covers.

**boarhunter67** · 09-16-2010, 08:09 AM

It wouldn't be from heat if they were tanned properly. However, if it was a skull mount with the hide left on, they probably weren't even tanned. They were probably just dried or maybe dry preserved. That's probably the reason. In any case, you can buy a mount kit like knowledge mentioned or take them to a taxidermist to do for you.

**dodgersfan** · 09-16-2010, 05:06 PM

boarhunter67,
You're right, they weren't tanned. I did, however, do them all the same by layering the inside of the hide, and in between the skull and hide, with Comet and let it sit for a week or so. This was after taking all flesh off. What confuses me is the fact that it didn't happen to my oldest mount for about 7 years, then all of a sudden it happened to the next oldest one and so on. I'm just wondering what caused it. You're right... I'll have to get a kit. Thanks for the insight!

**ltdann** · 09-19-2010, 09:36 AM

What I've done, is remove the old hide and replace it with blue or green felt. you can get the felt from Michaels crafts store. Simply use contact cement to glue the felt on and trim up the loose edges with an exacto knife. if it gets dusty, you can clean the felt with tape. Been doing it for years.

**jagdman** · 10-15-2010, 09:54 AM

It sounds like the beetles have gotten to your mounts. They will eat all the tissue that the hair is connected to then move on to the next mount until they are all bald. Check on the back side of the mount and see if there any thing that looks like rice crispies there, if there are then it is the beetles. You can kill them by freezing the mounts but will then need to get some kind of residual pesticide to keep them at bay. Even if you have a skin tanned they will still get to your fully mounted animals and eat them also. The best place to check the mounts for bugs, are where they attach against the wall around the base of the horns and between the toes on life size mounts. Good Luck

**boarhunter67** · 08-25-2011, 07:55 AM

For most european mounts now I cover them with a fake rock mixture that looks just like rock. Sometimes I will even press in some hoof prints into the mixture before it dries. There are a lot of ways to fix them. Think outside the box and have fun.